BSc (Hons) Therapeutic Radiography

This course will equip you with all the knowledge and skills that you require to work as a therapeutic radiographer providing cancer treatment and care in the NHS and the private sector. You’ll develop your expertise through in-depth theoretical learning, clinical placements in each year and the close support of our very experienced staff.

Are you technically minded with an equally strong interest in human personal care? Therapeutic radiography is a rewarding profession which brings together care and technological expertise. It is the skilled application of controlled amounts of radiation to treat medical conditions, mainly cancer and tumours. The therapeutic radiographer has shared responsibility for the planning and accurate delivery of radiation treatment.

See the foot of the page for some student case studies/ staff profiles

Why QMU?

You’ll enjoy a very high level of support and mentoring from our staff. We don’t take as many students as some institutions, so you will enjoy a more individual and interactive learning experience.

We have very good relationships clinical departments allowing us to support you constantly while you are on placement. You will be the only student on the team during your placements.

You’ll learn on specialist hi-tech facilities on campus. Our purpose-built therapeutic facility is equipped with a treatment table and lasers which allow patient positioning for radiotherapy treatment to be taught and practised.

About the course

Are you technically minded with an equally strong interest in human personal care? Therapeutic radiography is a rewarding profession which brings together care and technological expertise. It is the skilled application of controlled amounts of radiation to treat medical conditions, mainly cancer and tumours. The therapeutic radiographer has shared responsibility for the planning and accurate delivery of radiation treatment.

Are you ready to make a difference? As a therapeutic radiographer you’ll work with patients every day to help improve their care and their lives. You are a part of their journey, from initial referral through planning and treatment to the post-treatment review. You’ll be a valued member of a multi-disciplinary team of doctors, nurses and engineers. This course will equip you with the knowledge, understanding and critical thinking skills you need in this rewarding career.

In Year One you’ll learn about anatomy and physiology, scientific and technological radiographic principles, and the professional requirements of a therapeutic radiographer. You’ll study radiotherapy treatment and management of skin and benign thorax (chest), head and neck, and digestive oncology (cancer).

In Year Two you’ll study the developments in the delivery of radiation treatment, the management of patients undergoing radiotherapy treatment for reproductive, urinary, endocrine and nervous system. Students are introduced to research methods. Integration of theory and practice is facilitated through 13 weeks of placement.

Year Three explores lymphatic, haemopoietic, paediatric, bones, sarcomas and emergency disease management and radiotherapy treatment. You will further develop the critical skills of evidence-based practice. There are 13 weeks of clinical placement.

In Year Four you will enhance, broaden and consolidate your theoretical, research professional and clinical skills to enable a smooth transition to working life. There are 13 weeks of clinical placement.

We want all our graduates to be confident in their own professional identity and have the additional skills that will allow them to work as effective team members with people with other professional backgrounds. That’s why we have implemented an interprofessional education (IPE) focus within all of our undergraduate healthcare courses including this one.

Structure

This is a four-year, full-time honours degree. You will complete a range of modules each year, as outlined, and a dissertation in Year Four.

Teaching, learning and assessment

You will be taught in lectures, seminars, practical workshops and laboratories. Outside these timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning through self-study. You will be assessed by written exams at the end of each module or semester. >>Click for more information on 'Learning, Teaching and Assessment' - Please note that this is information relating to entry in 2019. Information for 2020 entry is not yet available.

Modules

Year One

Introduction to the Human Body

Manual Handling

Science and Technology (D&T)

Radiotherapy Physics and Equipment 1

Professional Practice 1

Radiotherapy Practice 1

Interprofessional Education

Year Two

Introduction to Research

Radiotherapy Physics and Equipment 2

Radiotherapy Practice 2

Clinical Practice in Radiotherapy 2 Block A

Clinical Practice in Radiotherapy 2 Blocks B and C

Year Three

Research Principles

Radiotherapy Practice 3

Clinical Practice in Radiotherapy 3

Professional Practice 3

Interprofessional Education 3

Year Four

Applied Research

Clinical Practice in Radiotherapy 4

Professional Practice 4

Interprofessional Education 4

The modules listed here are correct at time of posting (Feb 2019) but may differ slightly to those offered in 2020. Please check the website for any updates.

Placements

Placements are where your theoretical learning is consolidated and deepened by working directly with patients and qualified staff. You will complete one two-week placement in Year One. In Years Two, Three and Four you will complete two four-week and one five-week placement in each year. Placements can take place within the NHS at various locations across Scotland. QMU manages the sourcing and allocation of placements for each student on this course. You can also organise an elective placement overseas.

Exchange opportunities

N/A

Careers

Most graduates begin working as general radiographers, with very high graduate employment rates. Later on in your career you may be able to specialise in different aspects of therapeutic radiography, for example, treatment planning, treatment review and counselling.

Entry requirements

Scottish Higher: Standard BBBC, Minimum BCCC

A Level: CCC

Irish Leaving Certificate: H2 H3 H3 H3

International Baccalaureate: 28 points

International: IELTS of 6.0 with no element lower than 6.0.

Required subjects: One science at Higher/A Level or equivalent. English plus two sciences at Nat 5/GCSE.

Mature/Access: Related Access course – see our website for details at www.qmu.ac.uk/college-qualifications. We welcome applications from mature students with other relevant qualifications and/or experience.

Direct Entry: Not available. Relevant HN qualifications may be considered for entry to Year One.

Other requirements: A satisfactory criminal records check is also required. We also expect applicants to have visited an appropriate Radiotherapy Department. As the profession requires you to work with patients and with other healthcare professionals, you will need excellent interpersonal skills and you need to be caring and compassionate towards individuals’ circumstances.

Associate student places

N/A

Professional registration/ accreditation

This course is accredited by the Society and College of Radiographers and approved by the Health and Care Professions Council. Successful completion enables application for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council as a therapeutic radiographer which is essential for employment in the UK.

Special Information for EU Applicants: Previously EU students have had the cost of their tuition fees met by the Scottish Government. At the point of publication there is no information on whether this arrangement will continue for students starting their studies in 20/21. Updates will be posted on the QMU website when available.